Timing device for washing machines



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T. R. SMITH TIMING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Dec. 26, 1950 Filed lardh 29, 1946 Dec. 26, 1950 'r. R. SMITH 2,535,168

TIIING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Fild March 29, 1946 G 42 32 g: 36 r: 33 2}; 4 "'1- 50 49 23 1 r n 46 d 23 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

dig-17M fiwmpg Patented Dec. 26, 1950 TIMING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application March 29, 1946, Serial No. 858,177

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a timing mechanism for washing machines and the like, and especially to novel mechanical timing mechanism that may be applied to washing machines of all types where the actuation of the drive mechanism can be accomplished by, a push or pull movement of a shifter lever or knob.

Various forms of timing mechanisms have been employed but these do not have a universal application to washing machines in which the operating power may be derived from either an electric motor or gasoline engine. Furthermore, in prior forms of electrical timers, the movement of the timer is generally employed to actuate an electric switch to disconnect the electrical supply to the washing machine motor. With such arrangement, at the end of a predetermined washing period the entire washing machine is stopped and in order to apply power so as to permit operation of the wringer, it is necessary to reset the timer to hold and to declutch or disengage the power to the washing machine agitator or other washing mechanism in the tub.

Another form of timing mechanism for washers is that in which the mechanism is an integral part of the gear case. Such type of construction has numerous objections including the difficulty of servicing, is expensive to manufacture and install, and is difllcult or impracticable to apply to washing machines previously manufactured and in use.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a mechanical timing device which has universal application in that it may be applied to machines regardless of whether the power source is an electric motor, gasoline engine, etc., and may also be readily applied to new machines or those now in use in the field as it requires but a simple attachment to the push or pull lever or knob for actuating or clutchin the drive mechanism.

The invention further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of timing device and assembly consisting of an integral timer for actuating a trip mechanism mounted upon or associated with the shifter shaft of a washing machine.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts 11- lustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention,

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one form of washing machine to which the present invention may be applied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, part in side elevation and part in vertical crosssection, of an agitator and drive mechanism for a washing machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical crosssection through'the clutching mechanism for the agitator shaft, the view bein taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the assembly of the timing mechanism and showing the manner of connecting the timer to the shifter shaft for operating the clutch, the view of the latching mechanism being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the hinge bracket and latch assembly.

Fig. 6 is a plan 'view of the novel timing device and showing the manner of connecting the timer to the latch associated with the shifter shaft, the shifter shaft being shown in full lines in its declutching position and in dotted outline in its clutching position in which the latch engages a collar on the shaft and retains the shaft in clutching engagement until released by the timer.

Referring to the drawings and especially to the illustrative embodiment therein selected to illustrate the invention, the novel timing device is shown as preferably mounted upon the underside or interior of the skirt I encompassin or depending from a washing machine 2. The washing machine is shown as of the type employing an agitator 3 and may be operated from an electric motor, gasoline engineor other suitable source of power 4. This agitatoris oscillated or alternately rotated through a desired arc and at the desired speed to perform the washing operation and for that purpose is connected to a suitable gearing or drive mechanism. This drive mechanism may be of the type shown in Fig. 2 where the motor or other power source 4 drives a worm 5 through a belt or the like 8 and pulley 1 keyed to the worm shaft 8. The worm is in meshing relation and drives a worm wheel s'secured upon a stub shaft ID which continuously rotates-a shaft ll coupled thereto for operating the wringer. The

worm wheel is provided with an eccentric pin l2 operating in a vertical slot in the rear of a rack 13 adapted to be reciprocated upon a fixed rod l4 by the worm wheel 9 and its eccentric pm.

The teeth on the rack l3 are incontmuous meshing engagement with and drive a pinion 16 mounted on an agitator shaft 11. The pinion is free upon the shaft l! but is adapted to be clutched thereto by means of a clutch l8 pinned to the agitator shaft. A shifter [9 provided with an eccentricpin or cam 20 seats in an annular slot 2| in the lower end of the pinion I6 and 1s adapted to raise the pinion into clutching engagement with the clutch l8 and thereby oscillate the agitator, or the pinion may be lowered out of clutching engagement at which time the agitator 3 and its shaft I1 remain stationary, although the rack and meshing-pinion continue to move so long as power is supplied to drive the worm 9.

The shifter I9 is connected by an arm or other connection 19 toa shifter rod 22 extending to the front panel of the skirt or other accessible place on the washer and is thereat provided with a knob 23 whereby when the knob is pulled outwardly, the shifter rod v22 and shifter 19 are so moved as to raisethe pinion l6 and-clutch it to the agitator shaft H.

or encompassing frame I. This face of this timer is provided with a dial-25 with suitable designations for time period, etc.-, and a rotatable indicator or knob 26 to be moved to the desired designation. At the rear of the timer is an actuating pin or projection 21, upon which is .detachably mounted one end of a time lever'28 by means of a lock screw and nut 29. The other end of this lever is provided with an opening 30 for receiving one end of a wire 3]., with the other end of the wire attached to a latch member 32 pivotally mounted upon a hinge bracket 33.

The hinge bracket 33 is provided with'an opening 34 for receiving th'eshifter' shaft-or rod 22, a pair of inturned sides or flanges 35 anda tongue or projection 36. Pivotally or rotatably mounted upon this bracket isthe latch member 32 provided with a projection or flange 31 at each end adapted to be conformably received between the sides or flanges 35 and pivoted thereon by means of a hinge spring 38 having its opposite and outwardly projecting ends 39 passing through aligned openings in the flanges or projections 31 on the latch member 32, and 35 on the bracket 33. The latch member 32 is further provided with a laterally projecting .part or arm 40 connected to the wire 3i at 4| and bent or formed to provide an inwardly extending latch 42 having a latching tooth 43 adapted to engage and latch or look onto a collar 44 on the shifter shaft or rod 22. A spring 45 has oneend 46 anchored in an opening in the tongue or pr0je'ction36 on the bracket 33, and its other end 4! anchored in an opening in the arm 4o' on the hinge 32 whereby to force the latch 42' into a position for engaging the collar 44. 1

The hinge bracket 33 encompasses the shifter rod 22 and is mounted upon the rear surface of the front panel of the skirt I at the recess or concavity 48 by means of a bushing having an enlargement engaging the exterior of the skirt,

a threaded shank extending through an opening in the skirt, and a lock washer and nut 50 securing the bushing at the rear of the skirt. Thus, the shifter rod is slidably mounted in the bushing and opening 34 in the bracket. The collar 44 is secured upon the shifter rod 22 by means of a set screw 5|. In order to retract the shifter shaft or rod 22 to its inoperative or de-clutching position, a spring 52 has one of its ends secured to the set screw 5| and the other end anchored at 53 upon some suitable part of the washing machine or gear housing or case 54 enclosing the gear drive mechanism above described.

When the shifter rod or shaft 22 is pulled outwardly by grasping the knob 23, the pinion I6 is moved into clutching engagement with the agitator shaft l1. However, in order for the latch 42 of the latch member 32 to engage the collar 44 and retain the clutching engagement of the drive mechanism, it is necessary for the operator to first turn the timer or indicator knob 26 to some predetermined time as shown on the dial 25. In so doing, the operator relieves the tension on the flexible wire 3| so that the spring 45 forces the latch 42 to engage the collar 44 on the shifter rod or shaft 22 (as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6) and thereby retains the rod or shaft in its outer oron position. ,After thepredetermined period of time has elapsed, the timer operates or rotates the time lever 28 in such manner as to tighten or draw the flexible wire 3| taut, thereby moving the latch out of locking engagement with the collar 44 and against the tension of the spring 45. The spring 52 then pulls the rod or shaft 22 inwardly to off position and disengages the pinion I6 from the clutch [8 to thereby stop the agitator or washing mechanism 3. This does not disconnect the power to the worm wheel 9 and wringer drive shaft 1 I, thus permitting operation of the wringer.

The present device is shown employed for actuating the trip mechanism associated with the drive mechanism of a washing machine, although it is not limited thereto. Neither is it limited to a power drive of the type andconstruction disclosed in the drawings which has merely been shown for illustrative purposes, and to show one application of the present invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. Timing mechanism for disengaging the power drive to a washing machine operated from any suitable power source, comprising a driven shaft, a clutch secured to the driven shaft, a pinion loose on the driven shaft but connected to the power drive, a shifter rod for moving the pinion longitudinally of the driven shaft and into and out of engagement with the clutch, a timer adapted to be set for any predetermined period of operation of the driven shaft, a bracket mounted about the shifter rod, a latch supported by and rotatably mounted in the bracket and springbiased to latching position, a 'collar attached to the shifter rod adjacent the latch and when engaged by the latch retaining the shifter rod in operative position in which the power drive supplies power to the driven shaft, means for connecting the timer to the latch for rotating the latter and thereby automatically disengaging it from the collar when the timer has reached the end of the predetermined period for which it is set, and tension means connected to the collar and to a fixed part of the machine for returning the shifter rod to its inoperative position in which it disengages the pinion from the clutch.

2. Timing mechanism for washing, machines and the like provided with a clutch-actuate power drive, comprising a shifter rod adapted to be moved to engage or disengage the clutch, a timer adapted to be set for any predetermined period of operation of the power drive, a U-shaped bracket mounted about the shifter rod, a latch having spaced flanges rotatably mounted in the opposite sides of the bracket and spring-biased to latching position, a catch secured upon the shifter rod adjacent the latch and when engaged by the latch retaining the shifter rod in operative position, a lever mounted on the timer and a connection having one end secured to the lever and theother end to the latch for rotating the latter by the lever exerting a pull on the connection and thereby automatically disengaging it from the catch when the timer has reached the predetermined period for which it is set, and tension means for returning the shifter rod to its inoperative position in which it disengages the clutch.

3. Timing mechanism for disengaging the power drive to a washing machine operated from any suitable power source, comprising a shifter rod adapted to be moved in one direction for engaging the power drive and in the other direction for disengaging the power drive, a timing device provided with suitable time designations and an indicator adapted to be set by the operator for any desired period of operation, a catch on the shifter rod, a rotatable latch adapted to engage the catch and retain the shifter rod in position for engaging the power drive, a U-shaped bracket in which the latch is rotatably mounted, tension means between the bracket and latch for biasing the latch toward latching position, a connection from the timing device to the latch for rotating and tripping the latter and disengaging it from the catch and shifter rod upon the expiration of a designated time period, and tension means for returning the shifter rod to inoperative position when the latch is tripped.

4. Timing mechanism for disengaging the power drive to a washing machine operated from any suitable power source, comprising a driven shaft, a clutch on the driven shaft, a shifter rod for clutching and declutching the power drive to the driven shaft, a timing device provided with suitable time designations and an indicator adapted to be set by the operator for any desired washing period, a bracket disposed about the shifter rod, a collar secured on the shifter rod, a latch rotatably mounted upon the bracket and spring-biased toward latching position in which it engages the collar and retains the shifter rod in position for clutching the power drive to the driven shaft upon setting of said timing device for a desired period, a connection from the timing device to the latch for rotating and tripping the latter and disengaging the collar and shifter rod upon the expiration of a designated time period, and tension means connected to the collar for moving the shifter rod to automatically declutch the power drive when the latch is tripepd.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 898,848 Dodson Sept. 15, 1908 2,048,199 Racklyeit July 21, 1936 2,244,803 Rhode June 10, 1941 

